JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)
Artist Fellowship Program

Main Street Theater’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Artist Fellowship Program is a paid artistic leadership development program for early-career artists of color. Applicants submit a resume and portfolio. The selected fellows will be assigned to a production either with the MainStage or Theater for Youth programs in their area of interest (Directing, Design, or Stage Management) while being given access to additional professional development opportunities within the Main Street Theater organization.

2024 – 2025 JEDI Artist Fellows

Amaél Angel (he/him) (Directing Fellow, Kim’s Convenience) is a multi-hyphenate artist (Actor/Director/Dancer/Creator) and teacher interested in cultivating innovative forms of storytelling that accurately represents diverse communities of color. Angel recently graduated from Pitzer College with a BA in Theatre Arts and Spanish Studies, and is a proud first generation Mexican-American, and fellow Houstonian! His work centers collective storytelling, original works, theatre for social justice, and the complex experience of QTBIPOC and Latine communities in relation to physical movement and multimedia.

Recent work of his includes: Pomona College: (Creator/Performer) METANOIA; Climate Change Theatre Action Festival 2023: (Director) You Are Not Alone; EUSA 2023 Short Film Festival: (Co-Director) DUELO; and Spotlight Musical Theatre (Director) HOME: A BIPOC Musical Showcase.

Nadya A. Mercado (she/they) (Directing Fellow, Elephant & Piggie “We Are in a Play!”) is a loud and proud Latinx actress and director. They have portrayed roles such as Nina/Golden Thunder in Airness, Marilyn Monroe in Cursum Perficio, Lina in Cry It Out, and more. She has directed Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph, Brave Navigator by David Valdez Greenwood, Assistant Directed Beauty and The Beast, and more. She is committed to breaking cycles and giving more power and voice to those whose stories must be heard. They hope to continue to grow as a person and artist and learn as much as they possibly can for as long as they can.

Application Information & Important Dates

Application Deadline | Rolling
Candidate Interviews | Rolling
Fellowship Date Range | May 2025 – August 2026 Candidates will be selected for one production on either the MainStage or Theater for Youth during the 2025/2026 season.

See full application below.

Eligibility

Identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color
Resides in Houston or the surrounding area
Applicant’s experience must indicate their intention to pursue a professional career in directing, stage management or design for the theater.
Directing fellows will attend auditions, production meetings, rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and Opening Night of their designated production.
Stage Management fellows will attend auditions, production meetings, rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and all performances of their designated production.
Design fellows will attend production meetings and assist their design mentor as needed, both on and off site, and be present for all technical rehearsals.
Min. age: 22

Compensation

$1,500 stipend is provided to each Fellow

Benefits

Professional development and networking opportunities
Complimentary tickets to Main Street Theater productions
Mentorship opportunities at Main Street Theater and in the Houston theater community

For more information or if you have questions about the Fellowship, please contact Rebecca Greene Udden, Executive Artistic Director, at rudden@mainstreettheater.com

Apply:

MST JEDI Fellowship Program Application

Name(Required)

First Last

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Area of Interest(Required)

Preferred Program(Required)

Do you have daytime availability?(Required)

Yes

Do you have reliable transportation?(Required)

Yes

Highest Level of Education(Required)

School or University Attended(Required)

Graduation Date(Required)

REFERENCES:

Input three employment references in the field below (if not already included in your resume or CV) Please include each reference's Name and Contact Information (phone and email)

First Reference

Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Second Reference

Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Third Reference

Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR UPLOAD:

Letter of Interest, no longer than two (2) pages, that addresses the following:
- Why are you interested in the Fellowship? What attracts you to this particular Fellowship?
- What are your goals as an artist? Where do you want to be in a year? How will this Fellowship help you achieve your goals?
- Tell us about yourself: your experiences, dreams. What do you bring to this cohort of Fellows, mentors, and Main Street Theater staff?
- Why are you a fit for this particular Fellowship?
- Have you been mentored, or mentored someone before?
Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
Two (2) letters of recommendation from arts professionals

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